| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Series |
| Ref No | MS 3027/3 |
| Title | Journal of Jonathan Troup: May 1791 |
| Date | May 1791 |
| Extent | Pages 19 - 30 |
| Creator Name | Jonathan Troup (c1764 - 1799), physician, of Aberdeen, Scotland and Dominica, West Indies |
| Description | Journal of Jonathan Troup: May 1791. Troup is still onboard the ship
The relationship between Troup and the Captain and Mr Watt deteriorated. He was told off for showing a bad example by throwing away a piece of food which had a maggot on it and he claimed that they 'disrespected him' by passing a bottle between themselves without offering it to him. Later in the voyage, he refused to go on deck when the Captain requested him to ('that will show him I want nothing from him') which led to a row as the Captain had wanted to give the ladies time alone
He fell from the foot of the deck to the bottom of the companion stair which gave him severe bruising. He blamed the sleet making the deck icy but he had been drinking
There was a long period of sailing with no successful soundings
He transcribes the words of a Scottish song: 'and thou wert mine ain thing'
After the first sounding was made, a barrel of limes was opened and presents of rum were bottled. These bottles were hidden from the Customs Officers.
He gave instructions for making a globe out of seven sheets of paper
He gave remedies for colds and coughs
He transcribes the words to a French song along with some music
He sketched a monkey bitch and pups
They were boarded by the Winchelsea frigate as war had been declared against Russia on the 30th of March and there was a press going on. Troup described this and subsequent boardings in detail.
They saw the Island of Guernsey on the 10th of May and the coast of England on the 11th
He described the craft they saw off the coast of England
They got a pilot on board off the coast of Dover
Customs Officers boarded them and found nothing
A second pilot came on board to take them to London
They went ashore in London on the 17th of May
While in London, he visited Dr Morrison. St Paul's Whispering Gallery, an exhibition of paintings at Somerset Place, Covent Garden, archers at Heath park near Greenwich, and Vauxhall Gardens. He described encounters with London girls. He also got a brass plate engraved for half a guinea for himself as a surgeon in Aberdeen
He left London on the 29th of May on board the Athol bound for Aberdeen |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | The records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions. |